Discovering Our State’s Special Features The Five PHYSICAL Regions of Virginia

WHERE is VIRGINIA? Relative location is… Next to… North of… South of… Bordering… East of… West of… Who are Virginia’s neighbors?

Physical Regions of Virginia Coastal Plains OR Tidewater Piedmont Blue Ridge Mountains Valley & Ridge Appalachian Plateau

Tidewater OR Coastal Plain Region

Coastal Plain or Tidewater Region LOCATION & LAND: –Borders Atlantic Ocean –Borders Chesapeake Bay –Flat with sandy beaches –Many inlets, ports & harbors –East of the Fall Line –Includes Eastern Shore PRODUCTS: –Seafood and peanuts INDUSTRIES: –Shipbuilding –Tourism: beaches –Federal military installations

The Eastern Shore A peninsula, or a piece of land bordered by water on three sides. Crisscrossed by rivers Contains many salt marshes and wetlands. A wetland is an area between dry land and a body of water, such as a river, lake, or bay.

Swamps Swamps are slow moving streams, rivers or isolated depressions that host trees and some shrubs. One of the most famous swamps is in Virginia. Take a look!

Great Dismal Swamp Haven for many wild creatures including black bear, bobcat, river otter, poisonous snakes, and many rare plants. Also yellow-bellied and spotted turtles, lizards, salamanders, frogs and toads. Over two hundred species of birds have been identified. A mystery to most people with foreboding forests that protect its wildlife and ward off intruders.

What has happened to the Great Dismal Swamp? In May 1763, George Washington made his first visit to the Swamp and suggested draining it and digging a north-south canal through it to connect the waters of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. He formed two businesses known as the Dismal Swamp Land Company and the Adventurers for Draining the Great Dismal Swamp. This group hoped to drain the Swamp, harvest the trees, and use the land for farming. The company purchased 40,000 acres of Swamp land for $20,000 in Washington directed the surveying and digging of the 5-mile long ditch from the western edge of the Swamp to Lake Drummond, known today as Washington Ditch.

Lake Drummond Virginia’s largest natural lake Located in the same area as the Great Dismal Swamp and serves as a habitat and natural protection for many types of wildlife

Estuaries An estuary is the wide part of a river where it nears the sea. Fresh and salt water mix. A wide variety of wetlands, fresh and saltwater exist along the edges of these estuaries.

The Chesapeake Bay is an estuary. Fresh water from the rivers mixes with the salt water from the Atlantic.

Bordered by… Chesapeake Bay

Fish & Seafood Peanuts Virginia is fourth largest seafood producer in the U.S & the largest on the Atlantic Coast. Prime fishing areas include the Atlantic Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries or rivers.

Military Bases shipbuilding

PIEDMONT REGION

Piedmont Region Land at the foot of mountains LOCATION & LAND –Rolling Hills & Plateaus –West of the FALL LINE –West of Coastal Plain –Rich, fertile soil PRODUCTS: –Tobacco Products –Information Technology INDUSTRIES: –Technology –Federal & State Government –Farming –Horse industry

Technology: Computer chips coming out of the oven Federal & State government

Scenic horse trails, elite competitions, thrilling races, hunts and the Chincoteague ponies have established Virginia as one of the best destinations for horse activities and events. More than a half million horse lovers and admirers travel to Virginia each year to enjoy and participate in numerous events, shows, hunts, races, and trail rides. Virginia's partnership with horses began back in 1610 with the arrival of the first horses to the Virginia colonies.

Blue Ridge Mountains LOCATION & LAND –BETWEEN Piedmont and Valley & Ridge Regions –Part of Appalachian Mt Chain –Thickly forested mountains PRODUCTS: –Apples INDUSTRIES: –Recreation: mountain climbing, skiing –Farming These mountains are the SOURCE of our rivers

Natural Bridge Over millions of years the little stream wore away tons and tons of stone, leaving this giant bridge that stretches high above it. People say George Washington carved his initials 23 feet up the wall under Natural Bridge. Luray Caverns Andrew Campbell first discovered August 13, 1878 after cold air coming out of a sinkhole atop a large hill blew out his candle. He and his friends later uncovered the largest series of caverns in the East, a natural geologic wonder of stalactites and stalagmites

Hiking the Appalachian Trail Mountain Climbing : This region is a RECREATION area known for its resorts and scenery. These mountains also were a barrier that made it difficult for early settlers moving westward This trail begins in Maine and does not end until Georgia Virginia’s highest point in called Mt. Rogers, is found in the southern part of the region It is 5,729 feet high. Skiing

Virginia apple country includes the mountainous region of the northern Shenandoah Valley. Orchards cover over acres of land Virginia's apple harvest begins in July and extends through early November. Many of the apples are harvested in September, October and early November. An average of 5-6 million bushels of apples are produced every year by Virginia growers.

Ridge & Valley Region LOCATION & LAND –Most rugged area of Virginia. –Borders much of West Virginia –Many rocky peaks –Parallel ridges separated by lowlands and river valleys. PRODUCTS –Poultry –Apples –Beef & Dairy INDUSTRIES –Farming

Physical Geography of Valley and Ridge Area of flatter land known as Valley of Virginia, or the Great Valley Line of mountains known as Allegheny Mountains, part of Appalachian Mountain range. The Great Valley is really several valleys. Largest is Shenandoah Valley, located in the northern section. Shenandoah River runs through it. Natural Chimneys Shenandoah Valley Shenandoah River

Poultry Apples

Valley & Ridge Industries FARMING

Cumberland Gap provided a path for settlers. Allowed passage into Kentucky and Tennessee.

Appalachian Plateau LOCATION & LAND –Mountainous area that is flat on top, like a plateau –Smallest physical region located in southwest Virginia, extends into bordering states INDUSTRIES –Coal mining PRODUCTS –Coal Coal Seam in Mountain Early coal mining